Elliot
North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot
refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai,
choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has
changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of
progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land
to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes
renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable
Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai
seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let
him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a
secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its
knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been
raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved,
even if she’s lost him forever.

MY THOUGHTS

Compelling and poignant, For Darkness Shows the Stars is an intimate portrayal of a relationship tested to its very extremes–a war between belief, knowledge, desire, prejudice and need waged as Elliot and Kai are brought face to face after a separation that changed them both irrevocably. Interspersed between present events are letters exchanged between Kai and Elliot’s younger selves; the tender moments shared with us they compare thoughts and question the belief system they’ve been taught providing us a beautiful familiarity with both protagonists before we’re returned to the time where they are practically strangers, the openness and honesty expressed in those brief missives gone in the blink of an eye. Elliot and Kai’s story is a painful one–quiet and at times cruel–the intensity of it stemming not from grand, sweeping conflict, but rather from fleeting moments filled with tension and overflowing with such possibility that our hearts swell to the point of aching as we wonder whether that stunning potential, hidden deeply behind caustic words and deliberate callousness, will ever be reached.

Elliot is a young woman of unmatched strength, making choices for the North Estate and its inhabitants no one her age should have to make, and sacrificing the only person she’s ever been able to be her true self with for the good of those under her care. When we meet her, we know she let Kai go to ensure those who work on the estate would have a buffer between them and her father’s fluctuating iron fist and cool selfish negligence, choosing to stay behind in body while her heart fled with Kai. She handles Kai’s repeated verbal jabs with a grace befitting someone far older and world-weary, taking his hurt and absorbing into herself as punishment for what he views as a betrayal all those years ago, and never once allowing him to see just how deep his words cut. While she never speaks outright in her defense, she also doesn’t cower from the force of his hatred, and we can’t help but read with our backs held ramrod straight, hoping to lend her some of our strength even though she doesn’t appear to need it.

Kai is an intriguingly complex character, someone it would be easy to dislike instantaneously when faced with his uncaring treatment of someone who loved him four years ago–and loves him still–were it not for the letters written to Elliot as they grew up together. Not fully understanding why being a Post made him less of a person, we can feel his confusion as he tried to sort out the ways of his world with Elliot when he was younger, and we long for a glimpse of that sweet boy in the dauntless Fleet Captain who takes advantage of every opportunity to hurt Elliot. Still, it’s clear to us his actions are those of a man in pain, lashing out when faced with the one person who threatens to render his impeccably-made armor useless, and the pounding of our hearts echoes loudly in our ears every time he finds himself alone with her as we wait for him to see past his anger and to the truth of his history with Elliot. The truth being he asked of her the only thing that was not hers to give: the lives of everyone on the North Estate who would have suffered or perished had she abandoned them to run with Kai.

Those readers who love their dystopian reads to have a thoroughly well-developed world haunting in its dark grittiness may find themselves a touch disappointed in this tale, the history of the Posts and the Reduced just brief enough for us to understand the terminology but lacking in copious amounts of detail. Instead, we’re given a thorough look at a tiny piece of this world, the development of the characters given extra attention and their personalities crafted so intricately that the world outside the two of them almost becomes irrelevant in the face of the stunningly tragic romance laid before us. Our hearts bleed, scream, and beg for mercy before we reach the final pages, and we can’t help but revel in a story so emotionally charged.

I started this today and understanding the reduced and the posts was confusing at first but now that I understand it all I think I will enjoy the story more. I just hope I'm not TOO annoyed with Kai which is really my biggest concern. Since you liked it so much I'm not as worried though.

Alison - I know you're not, but I think you'll really like this one. It's much more about the characters than the world and I really enjoyed it:)

Candace - I was really confused at first as well, but once I got it sorted, I fell in love with the story:) Kai definitely tested the limits of my patience, but he clearly thought she'd betrayed him so I could at least understand where he was coming from.

Natalie - Yay! Hope you give it a try. It was one of those slow stories that just kind of drew me and before I knew it, I was all caught up in the tension. There's lots of tension:)

Thanks so much for the review, Jenny! I have For Darkness Shows The Stars on my review pile and it's very encouraging to hear that you really enjoyed reading this book. It sounds like Kai and Elliot really have a complicated relationship filled with both pain and love, but I look forward to seeing it explored more in the book.

I've been waiting for this one since I saw the cover ages ago! I have never read anything by her and I'm hoping I enjoy it as much as you. Do you know if it's a series or is it a stand alone. I don't think you said.It was such a beautiful review I was trying not to miss anything!

It sounds like this is very character driven, but for a good set of characters I am willing to forgive any lack of world-building. Amazing review, Jenny! I haven't read many reviews for this book but yours has convinced me I need to get this in my hands as soon as its released. :)

So many of my friends literally came out and said, "Mimi, READ this book!" but yours is one of the first full reviews I've seen and I feel like it's saying the same thing! x) It sounds like the romance -- and Kai -- is complicated, but Elliot sounds like a strong character who can hold her own, and I don't think I'd mind too mush. After all, the complicated romances (as well as the heart-wrenching stories) are always the most gripping to read! :)

Ohh wow!!! such a high rating!!! It sounds sooo beautiful and I'm sure I won't be disappointed by the lack of proper explanations of the dystopian world. I loved Under The Never Sky where there was also not too much explanation, you just have to go and explore the world by yourself. I kind of like this.

Our hearts bleed, scream, and beg for mercy before we reach the final pages, and we can’t help but revel in a story so emotionally charged. Gahh Jenny you are killing me here! I only discovered this book last week because of the gorgeous cover, but now that you've written this fantastic review I can't wait to read it! :)

Liz - Oh good, I can't wait for your thoughts! They definitely had a complicated relationship, but it didn't feel angsty to me because Elliot handled his ire so well.

Heather - This is my first book by her as well and I definitely want to go back and read the others. Killer Unicorns? Win. I *think* this is a standalone, I haven't seen any mention of a sequel but I could be wrong.

Sam - I'm a character girl, so while I was definitely confused for a few chapters in the beginning with the Post/Reduced situation, it really took of for me when Kai came back.

Mimi - I HIGHLY recommend this one - it was painful to read at times, but like you said, those always are the most gripping. I couldn't put it down:)

Tara - Sorry! Only a couple more weeks though:) I hope you love it!

Danny - I know, this one caught be by surprise. I didn't expect it to be quite as emotionally intense as it was, and I love stories like that.

Hmm well you know me, I am always whining about lack of defail in dystopian settings. Yet, it seems that might be a good trade off for compelling characters and an emotionally charged deep story. I am definitely curious about this one and a 4.5 rating is high from you, Jenny!

Jenny, I don't like stories that are too dystopian-y so I wasn't too interested this one. You've convinced me to change my mind since this sounds more like an emotional story with fantastic characters that just happens to be set in a dystopian setting.

WOW, this one just sounds awesome. I'm a bit tired of the "Hunger Games" derivative dystopians out there right now and I like how this one avoids this, giving the reader a new, fresh story. Definitely going to check this one out. Thanks for an awesome review, Jenny!

Ok your review intrigued me like nothing else, and that's coming from someone who wants to buy this book the moment it's released. WOW! It sounds flipping amazing!! Kai and Elliot sound like unusual characters to YA lit, but that's what I love. I'm so excited to get lost in this world! Thanks for this awesome review!

Huh. Well, I'd pretty much written this book off as being one that wouldn't appeal to me, but now I'm kind of reconsidering. I should have known better. Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel. I think I read somewhere that "the letter" wasn't really as moving as it was in JA's version, but I guess you can't expect everything to be the same.

This book sounds a lot deeper and more emotional than I thought it'd be. I have this book on my shelf, and I really need to read it soon. I think your review has convinced me to bump this book up on my to-read list! The complexity of the characters sounds amazing, and Elliot sounds like exactly the kind of protagonist I'd love. Beautifully written review, Jenny! <3

Agreed! I loved this one too. Especially Elliot with all her strength. She is possibly one of the most mature and selfless characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. My heart just ached for her and all that she sacrificed and went through. I am so impressed with Diana Peterfreund's writing and am eager to read something else of hers!

Gorgeous review! I think you've captured the emotion in it so clearly. I especially loved this phrase: "we can’t help but read with our backs held ramrod straight, hoping to lend her some of our strength even though she doesn’t appear to need it." How true! You've written something lovely here, about an amazing book. Bravo!

Aww, Jenny your review is AWESOME! I'm sad because I didn't love it...at all. I really, really, really wanted to and I wanted to feel the same way about it as you did but man, I just couldn't do it! But again, amazing review! I'll be linking to it on my review!